Project ART GANG: A Second Chances Art Cooperative
What better day than Hugo Chavez Day to announce what could be the most significant shift in how we connect with communities at the margins. Could web3 erase the margins? Let’s go find out.
Convicted All Stars, Fabia Debora - could this painting save a life as an NFT? Yup. Fact.
“Today we celebrate the life and legacy of César Estrada Chávez, a champion for social justice and advocate for hardworking people who build and sustain our Nation. Born into poverty and raised by migrant workers, Chávez courageously dedicated his life to improving conditions for workers across the country. Chávez witnessed firsthand the inequities of an economy that only served those at the top and left millions of hardworking Americans behind. ”
The roots of Hero Bridge can be found in the many stories of how even the simplest technology was able to transform the lives of communities on the margins all over the world. The story of Homeboy Industries stands out above them all. If anyone told Greg Boyle that the purchase of a bakery in LA’s East Side in the ‘80’s would turn into the largest gang intervention program in the world - he’d probably reply, ‘all I know is nothing stops a bullet like a job.’
So it is with pleasure that we issue this pre-press release announcement that Hero Bridge’s on-chain supportive technology that has been serving LA’s foster community for years, has partnered with famed graffiti artist Fabian Debora, the executive director of Homeboy Industries’ newest addition The Homeboy Art Academy to create an “brand community” that will celebrate the art and the progress of young Homies through the development of an artist as therapy community that is supported by art collectors. Unlike any other residence program before it, the Homeboy Artist in Residence Program will not only develop artistic skills and education through scholarship, but also what we call “The Art of Life”, ie. those fundamental skills that many of us take for granted that create a sustainable future, like how to open a bank account, financial literacy, healthy relationships, starting your own business, self care and more. This project is a holistic program, supported on-chain by NFT owners and DAO Treasuries - set within a community where its members can choose where they want their impact to be felt, and the feedback to let them know that it worked. #CommunitySupportingCommunity or #CSC
Master Artist, Muralist Fabian Debora, executive director Homeboy Art Academy, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles
The ‘bridge’ has never been more on display than through this truly MADE IN LA partnership. Long a symbol of the divide, LA’s many bridges across the LA River is both an engineered geographic barrier and a symbol we intend to tear down…in the metaverse. Through Hero Bridge, yet another westside Silicon Beach success story, and eastside’s Homeboy Art Academy will weave together as many “Artist in Residence” programs as possible, each supported by the communities that thrive in the arts and entertainment industry. The result of this support?: a skillset pipeline to paid internships and jobs that grow LA’s economy in situ. THIS is how we get tough on crime - and we already have the data to support that it works. Through HeroBridge and the data and communic feedback loop it creates between cause-and-supporter we will change everything we think about the power of giving. Forever.
Steel Life, by Fabian Debora
UPCOMING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAMS
Fine Arts
Graphic Arts
Digital Arts
NFT Art Production and Management
Social Media Arts
Music and Production
Film and Production
Culinary Arts
Automotive Arts
Literary Arts
The Business of Art Marketing and Promotion
“If only someone had invested in this young person. Only if YOU invest in this young person.”
